Archive
Archive for the ‘Investment Commentary’ Category
2018 Q1 Review and Outlook
Normalcy finally returned to equity markets in the first quarter, ending nearly two years of calm and leaving investors feeling unsettled. January started much the same as 2017 ended, with equity markets advancing relentlessly and extending the historic period of low market volatility and length of time without a double-digit decline…
The Market Downturn
Comments from our Investment Group The U.S. stock market, at this writing is down 8% from its recent high. As we have discussed in the past, it is not unusual for a Bull Market to have a 5% to 10% correction every few quarters. The surprise is the rapidity of the decline. It has…
2017 Q4 Review and Outlook
The calendar turns over to 2018 leaving behind one of the least volatile years for equity markets in history. The S&P 500 returned 21.8% in 2017, finishing the fourth quarter up 6.6%, with a intra-year dip of only 3%…
Why Fiduciary Standards Should Matter To You.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) new Fiduciary Rule is intended to address conflicts of interest that permeate the financial industry. Although many of our peers have had to alter their business practices to comply with the rule, nothing will change here at The Trust Company of Virginia. Find out what the new rule intends…
2017 Q3 Review and Outlook
Nearing the end of the year creates a natural inclination to reflect on where the markets have been, where they are, and where they may be in the future. In the third quarter the song remained very much the same as previous quarters…
2017 Q2 Equity and Fixed Income Commentary
Despite headwinds of rising interest rates, a decreasing likelihood of fiscal stimulus and high valuations, U.S. equity markets keep climbing…
2017 Spring Newsletter
What Your Children In Their 30s And 40s Should Know About Wealth Preservation Are you preparing your beneficiaries for wealth? Trust funds are not always lost to divorce or reckless spending. More often than not, children are simply not educated in wealth preservation. Being a conscientious steward of wealth is a tremendous responsibility. Heirs in their…
2016 Q2 Fixed Income Commentary
The second quarter of 2016 has been one for the books. Negative interest rates continued to confuse investors, Puerto Rico defaulted on their constitutionally guaranteed GO debt, US politics continue to provide global amusement… however the UK eclipsed them all with a surprise vote to leave the European Union. The “Brexit” surprised markets and caused a rush of…
2016 Q1 Equity Market Commentary
The first quarter of 2016 was a roller coaster ride. From the onset, the S&P 500 fell nearly 5% in the first week of trading and by the second week of February was down approximately 10%. A sharp rebound then took hold as the flu-like temperature of the global economy seemed to subside; oil prices…
2015 4th Quarter Fixed Income Comments
Finally, after a year of talking about it, the Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.25 percentage points, the first rate hike since 2006. The new range for the federal funds rate is 0.25% to 0.5%. The Fed unanimously agreed the economy was strong enough to warrant an increase: they noted as positives “ongoing job gains”…